Carding construction for belt lacing hooks



Sept, 24, 1935- c. MESSINGER CARDING CONSTRUCTION FOR BELT L ACING HOOKS Filed March 16, 1933 INVENTOR Charles Nessmgev BY ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES CARDING CONSTRUCTION FOR BELT LACING HOOKS Charles Messinger, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application March 16, 1933, Serial No. 661,101

Claims.

This invention relates to carding devices for belt lacing hooks, the invention being more particularly related to an improved construction of this character having improved means for holding and retaining the individual wire hooks of a carded gang in uniform spaced relation.

It is well known to provide cards for mounting belt hooks in spaced apart symmetrical relation for the purpose of engaging the hooks by an automatic device by means of which to apply the hooks to the belt. Various forms and types of card structure have been proposed for this purpose, but in practice it is found that the pro- 7 posed constructions are always open to the ob- 'ection that they do not retain the hooks with sufiicient firmness, or at a sufiicient number of contact points, or at the proper contact points, to prevent their individual displacement as a result of the more or less rough treatment to -which the carded gangs are subjected during handling, packing, transportation, or in placing the hooks in the applying mechanism. As a result the proposed constructions frequently fall short of their real purpose,

I have now found that in order to obtain a firm carding of the hooks, it is necessary to provide a carding head as Well as a carding base, which head will'fit about and between the individual hooks near the apex portions thereof and firmly engage the respective side arms of the individual hooks at opposite points above the points or places of engagement with the carding base.

With my arrangement, the carding head may be applied after the hooks have been mounted in the carding base, and irrespective of whether or not the hooks are socarded in the base as to prevent individual canting or displacement, the head will upon its application effect a true parallel spacing of the individual hooks in accordance with the spacing provided for in the base, and it will keep the individual hooks in true uniformly spaced relation notwithstanding the rough usage to which the carded gang is usually subjected.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carding head which is adapted not only to brace the individual hooks but which will form an effective bracing connection between all of the hooks of the gang, thereby providing a firm carding of the entire assembly so that there can be no skewing thereof and no turning of the hooks in their openings to wear and weaken the cardboard contacts with the hooks.

A further object of my invention is to provide a carding. head which can seat upon the upturned portions or sides of the base to give stability to the whole assembly and at the same time to serve as a cover or roof for the. protection of the top edges of the upturned portions.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in its evolvement the simple and practical examples illustrated in the accompanying'drawing, in which a Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a fragmentary portion of a carding construction made in accordance with my invention, together with a number of wire hooks applied to the carding base and head;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are end views showing, respectively, other practical-forms of the carding con-' struction;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary plan views of blanks used in producing the base cards, Figs. 6 and 7 showing blanks suitable for producing the base cards illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, while Fig. 8 shows a blank suitable for producing the base card illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary blank for producing the carding head illustrated in Figs.- 1 to 4; r

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of the assembled base and head cardsshown in Figs- 1 and 2, but without the hooks; and

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the base and head card. shown in Fig. 4, but without the hooks.

Referring with more particularity to the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that the carding construction comprises a carding base denoted in general by the reference character a and a carding head denoted in general by the reference character 1), both of these devices being produced from flexible material such, for instance, as light cardboard or the like. The wire belt hooksc which are to be carded are of well-known form, each consisting of an apex portion lfi connecting two downwardly diverging side arms l6, l6 provided at their lower ends with inturned sharp-pointed prongs l'l. As shown in the drawing, one of the side arms of each hook is longer than the other in accordance with the Well-known form in which belt hooks of this character are made. However, hooks may be used with arms of equal length.

The carding base a. in accordance with the form thereof illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 6, '7 and 10, comprises a base l8 with integral sides l9, l9 which are bent upwardly in converging relation from the respective parallel crease lines 20, 2B. The angular convergence of the sides corresponds substantially with the lines of the diverging side arms of the hooks. These upturned sides l9, l9 are provided with corresponding lines of spaced circular openings 2!, there being in each side a line d of such openings in equi-spaced relation and a line e of such openings also in equispaced relation; and it will be observed that the openings of the two lines are staggered in the usual manner in order to provide for the accommodation of the long and short arms of the hooks. the arrangement being such that in the completed assembly, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the long and short arms of succeeding hooks will alternate at each side or section of the carding base. The hooks are mounted upon the sides or sections by inserting their prongs inwardly through the openings 2| so that the sides of the carding base will 'contact the inner faces of the arms of the hooks. From the side section l9 of the carding base there is bent along a crease line 22, which is parallel with the crease lines 20 and 20, a marginal edge portion 23 in which is produced for the accommodation of each arm at that side of the structure an open elongated slot or opening 23, it being noted that said marginal edge 23 is bent outwardly and upwardly across the hooks so that the free edge of this section is situated along the outer faces of the arms of the hooks which are accommodated in the elongated slots or openings 23'.

' The carding head b comprises a substantially flat member or cover which is provided with elongated transversely extending slots or openings 24 alternating with integral straight cross bars 25. These elongated transverse slots 24 are spaced in conformity with the spacing of the small circular openings 2! so that when the hooks have been applied to the side sections and are positioned vertically with uniform parallel spacing the carding head may be applied by passing the slots 24 over the apex portions of the hooks and fitting the straight cross bars 25 between the hooks, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. In this arrange- A ment, the pasteboard material defining the circularopenings 2!, slots 23' and elongated slots or openings 24 have appreciable frictional contact with the hooks. The length of the elongated slots or openings 24 is such that the carding head will have an appreciable tight frictional contact with 'l the arms of the hooks when the head is moved downwardly thereon far enough to have frictional engagement with the top or free ends of theside sections of the carding base. The carding head firmly retains the hooks in the precise "uniformly spaced positions in which they are situated or applied to the side sections of the carding base, and it will be recognized that the carding head constitutes effective bracing means between the hooks and at the outer faces thereof so that the hooks cannot become displaced in any direction.

The marginal out-turned. portion 23 may, if desired, be provided with closed elongated. slots 26 as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, or with elongated slots 21 associated with breaks or slits 2'5, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Where closed elongated slots such as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 are used, the thin edge walls 28 may be readily broken through in applying the arms of the hooks to the slots; and where the elongated slots 21 are associated with slits or breaks 21', as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it will be evident that the arms of the hooks may be forced through the slits or breaks 21 in applying them to the slots.

In Figs. 4, 8 and 11, I show both sides or sec- 5 tions of the carding base provided with marginal portions 23 out-turned from crease lines 22, so that at each side of the assembly there will be outwardly and upwardly inclined marginal portions the free edges of which extend tolines along 10 outside the exterior outlines of the hooks; and in this slightly modified form of construction, the carding head has frictional contact with or seats upon the free edges of these out-turned marginal portions. 15 In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 11, it will be seen that the carding base is illustrated as being produced in two parts or sections comprising oppositely disposed and parallel horizontal base parts 29 and 30. In 20 thus producing the horizontal portion of the carding base in two'parts or sections 29 and 30, there need be no change in the structural details of the upwardly converging sides [9 and I9.

According to an important feature of my in- 26 vention, the carding head is of a size laterally to I extend over and cover the free top: edges of the side sections of the carding base, and the purpose of this arrangement is not only to give firmness and stability to the whole assembly, but also 30 to provide as it were, a roof or covering over these free edges so as to protect them against mutilation and distortion incident to handling and packing. If desired, as illustrated in Figs.

4 and 5, the carding head may be of a transverse 35" dimension sufficient to provide downwardly bent marginal portions which engage over the free top edges of the side sections for the protection of the latter.

According to another feature of my inven- 40 to maintain these sections pressed outwardly 45 against the inside faces of the arms of the hooks. In the present embodiment, the strips or tabs 32 are united intermediate their length with the underface of the carding head by means of suitable adhesive and so that their free opposite ends can 60* be bent downwardly and outwardly against the inner faces of the side sections as shown. By means of these strips or tabs, increased firmness and stability is given to the entire assembly.

The principles of my invention and the mode of carrying them into effect in a practical way may be employed in connection with any type or style of carding base or side sections having openings in which to place the hooks in spaced parallel relation, the forms of carding bases shown in the accompanying drawing being presented merely as examples to demonstrate the manner in which a gang of hooks, after being established in spaced parallel relation in the carding base, can be firmly secured against displacement in the precise relationship in which they are fixed in the base.

It is characteristic of my invention that the carding head will hold the individual hooks firmly against any turning movement such as will wcar and weaken the material defining the openings in which the hooks are placed, and also that the frictional contact between the head and upturned sections of the base will give firmness and stability to the whole structure, preventing any skewing or twisting such as will, by wearing of the material, loosen or lessen the frictional contact of the hooks with the walls which define the openings. It will be appreciated that the thin cardboard material of which the carding base and head are produced possesses more or less inherent resiliency, and that if this material is repeatedly bent or distorted from its prescribed form such inherent resiliency will be impaired and the material weakened to such an extent that at least some of the hooks of the gang will work loose and come out of their symmetric parallel relation with the remainder of the hooks of the gang. The carding head firmly retains all the hooks of the gang in a firm stabilized assembly and in connection with the base prevents the individual hooks from skewing, tilting or working loose. The carding head also covers and protects the top edges of the side sections from any breaking or mutilation during handling.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying my invention into eifect, as reduced to practice, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not want to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A belt hook carding construction, comprising in combination with a flexible carding base including upwardly extending sides with free top edges, a separate flexible carding head forming a. top cover extending across and covering said free top edges, the sides and cover having openings of uniform spacing in which hooks can be placed with their legs extending exteriorly of the sides and through the cover to afford connections between the sides and cover so as to be held against displacement by the parts which they connect, the sides being effective as abutments for portions of the inner faces of the legs while the cover serves as abutments for portions of the outer faces thereof and with the cover in frictional bearing contact with said free top edges to give stability to the whole assembly.

2. A belt hook carding construction, comprising a flexible carding base and a separate flexible carding head, the same being provided with series of aligned openings in which the hooks can be placed so as to be held against individual displacement, said base including opposing upwardly extending sides having free top edges and lying within the legs of the hooks to provide inside abutments therefor and with one side receiving the legs of the hooks therethrough, and said head being a separate element unconnected with the base and sides and disposed as a cover upon said free top edges receiving the legs of the hooks and forming outside abutments therefor and cooperating in contact with said free top edges to provide reinforced bearing means for stabilizing the whole assembly.

3. In a belt hook carding construction, a plurality of hooks, a flexible carding base including opposing upturned sides, a separate flexible carding head, said sides and head having openings of uniform spacing with which the hooks are engaged, which hooks aiford connections between the base and head and are held thereby against individual displacement, said head extending over and contacting the edges of said upturned sides, and means carried by the head to contact and press the opposing sides in opposite directions against the hooks.

4. A belt hook carding construction, comprising a flexible base having opposite opposing upturned sides in which to place the hooks in prescribed 5 parallel relation, the sides being disposed adjacent the inner faces of the hooks, a flexible head in which the hooks can be placed in corresponding parallel relation to afford connections between the sides and head and to be held thereby against displacement, and means on the head for engaging and pressing thesides outwardly against the inner faces of the hooks.

5. A belt hook carding construction, comprising a flexible base having opposite sides in which to place the hooks with the sides located at the inner faces of the hooks, a flexible head in which the hooks can be placed in corresponding parallel relation to aiford connections between the sides and head and to be held thereby against displacement, said head affording a cover for protecting the top ends of the sides, and means on the head for engaging and pressing the sides outwardly against the inner faces of the hooks.

6. In combination with a plurality of belt lacing hooks having apex portions connecting arm portions, base carding including spaced upstanding side sections having openings in which the arm. portions are mounted and having free top edges, and a separate head carding disposed above said side sections in angular relation thereto and extending in the direction of its width outwardly across said free edges, said head carding having openings in which the arms are mounted above the sections and near the apex portions, to retain the individual hooks against displacement and in the respective positions in which the arms are mounted in the sections of the base, and said head carding, without union either with said sections or with the free edges thereof, coop- 4,0 crating with said free edges where they cross the same to provide reinforced and frictional bearing cover means therewith for giving firmness and stability to the whole structure.

'7. In combination with a plurality of belt lacing hooks having apex portions connecting arm portions, base carding sections in which the arm portions are mounted, which sections converge upwardly and have free top edges, and a head carding having openings through which the apex portions project, contacting the arms near the apex portions and providing a cover for protecting the free top edges of the sections.

8. A belt hook package comprising with a plurality of belt hooks having apex portions connecting arm portions, the combination of upturned base sections in which the arms are carded in uniform spaced relation, at least one of said sections having an out-turned top projecting beyond the outer sides of the carded arms and 60 both of said sections having free top edges, and a head element in which the hooks are carded at points between the apex portions and the points of carding in the sections, said head element forming a cover for the out-turned top projection and the free top edges.

9. A belt hook carding construction, comprising a carding base having upwardly extending side sections adapted to be engaged by the arms of the hooks to establish the hooks in uniformly spaced relation, said side sections having free top edges, a carding head adapted to be engaged by the hooks engaged by the base, said head being separate from the base and being effective to afford bracing means contacting the hooks near the apex portions thereof to retain the hooks individually in the uniform spaced relation established by the base, and comprising a cover for said side sections which projects outwardly across and beyond said free top edges in frictional contact therewith.

10. A construction for carding belt hooks having apex portions connecting diverging arms, a base of flexible material in which to card the arms at points distant from the apex portions to establish the hooks in spaced parallel relation, and a head of flexible material for securing the hooks in the relation in which they are established in the base, its construction including elongated slots for the projection therethrough of the apex portions, and bars alternating with the slots to fit between and contact with the hooks near the apex portions thereof, said head being of a size to project beyond the lateral outline of the top of the base.

CHARLES MESSINGER. 

